🌊 Waterfront Wednesdays 2025: Free Riverfront Programming All Summer Long

Wednesdays, July 9 – August 20, 2025 | 4:00 PM – Sunset
📍 Henry Hudson Riverfront Park | Hudson, NY
Presented by Hudson Sloop Club and Operation Unite NY
Contact: Adam Weinert | info@hudsonsloopclub.org

A Celebration of Community, Creativity, and the Hudson River

Waterfront Wednesdays returns for its sixth season of free, family-friendly programming at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. From July 9 through August 20, the park comes alive every Wednesday afternoon and evening with live performances, interactive workshops, river adventures, and a vibrant vendor marketplace.

This beloved weekly series is a partnership between Hudson Sloop Club and Operation Unite NY, supported by a wide network of community organizations and generous sponsors.

☀️ Farmers Market Every Wednesday

The Wednesday Farmers Market has already begun and continues throughout the season, bringing fresh produce, handmade goods, and local treats to the riverfront. Whether you're shopping for ingredients, grabbing dinner, or just enjoying the vibe, the market is a weekly celebration of local abundance and care. Vendors vary week to week, so each visit offers something new.

🎶 2025 Performance Lineup | All Shows Begin at 6:00 PM

July 9 – Beautiful Racket
July 16 – Brasskill
July 23 – Pulso De Barro
July 30 – Vanaver Caravan
August 6 – Operation Unite NY, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus & Social Justice Leadership Academy
August 13 – LETZ
August 20 – Wyld Blu

Programming begins at 4:00 PM each week with an African Drum Circle hosted by the Ujima Community Collective.

🧵 Special HighlightS

On July 9 and August 13, Waterfront Wednesdays welcomes the return of The Fix-It Picnic: Community Dye Baths, presented by Hudson Area Library and led by LikeMindedObjects. Guests of all ages are invited to experiment with natural dye techniques by bringing light-colored, natural-fiber clothing or fabric to dip into community dye baths. There will also be space and supplies for sewing, t-shirt weaving, mending, and craft projects. No registration required—just show up between 5:00 and 7:30 PM. Supplies are limited and available on a first-come basis. This program is presented by Hudson Area Library and made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Bindlestiff’s Cirkus After School adult and teen teaching artists offer mentorship at Hudson Juggling Club each Wednesday. Free and open to all levels of learner, Hudson Juggling Club provides equipment to try, including juggling balls, juggling clubs, diabolos, etc. Youth under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Weather permitting in the north end of Hudson's Riverfront Park. during Waterfront Wednesdays.

🚤 On-the-Water Experiences

Explore the Hudson River from multiple perspectives, thanks to our generous maritime partners. Sign-ups are available at the Hudson Sloop Club trailer in the park.

⛴ Hudson Ferry Co. (HFC)

Free ferry service: Hudson → Athens at 5:00 & 8:00 PM | Athens → Hudson at 5:30 & 8:30 PM
Scenic cruises: Departing Hudson at 6:00 & 7:00 PM (45–60 mins)
Reserve at www.hudsonferry.co or sign up in-person at the Sloop Club tent.

💡 Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Tours (HALPS)

Narrated exterior tours: Every 30 minutes from 5:00 to 7:00 PM
Learn about the lightkeepers, river navigation, and restoration efforts.
Sign-ups are in-person only, first come, first served.

🌬 Schooner Apollonia

Weekly sails at 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 PM (50 minutes)
A wind-powered freight vessel offering hands-on education about sustainability and river ecology.
Sign up at the Nack Center tent in the park.

⛵ Sloop Clearwater (July 9 & July 30 only)

Two-hour sails on the last active Hudson River sloop
Tickets: 20 advance at clearwater.org/public-sails + 25 free spots in person at the park
Supported by a $1,000 contribution from the Hudson Sloop Club

All boat schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change.

🛍 Vendors & Community Partners

Each week features a rotating cast of local makers, growers, and organizations. Past participants include:

Food & Farms: Muscle Man Farms, Lulu’s Charcuterie, LemonHeads, Sky’s the Lemonade, Common Hands Farm
Artisans & Makers: EdieArt, Laws of Seven, Biti Besha Jewelry, Laiken Mae Handmade, Nix Design Co, SunDog Printmaking
Youth & Community Orgs: Hudson Youth Bike Coop, Columbia-Greene Addiction Coalition, Camphill Community Triform, Columbia Children’s Center, Miss Moon and Friends, The Olana Partnership, Hudson CAC, Peta’sPocket, Larynx Jewels

💛 Thanks to Our Supporters

Waterfront Wednesdays 2025 is made possible through generous support from:

Major Support:

The Fund for Columbia County of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
The Schlather Family Fund
The City of Hudson
Statewide Community Regrant Program (administered by CREATE Council on the Arts)

Additional Sponsors:
Clever Property Management, Friendly City Creative Club, Hudson Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society, Hudson Clothier, Hudson Ferry Co., Rebus, Rivertown Lodge, Schooner Apollonia, SPARK of Hudson, The Spotty Dog Books & Ale, This Old Hudson, and Clearwater

🧭 Guided by Our Board of Advisors

Adam Weinert, Sarah Van Buren, Elena Mosley, Sam Merrett, Selha Graham, Stephanie Monseu, Danny Amend, Kate Treacy, Pseudomnesia, Susannah Lescher, Tracy Robinson, Elise McMahon

📅 Join Us This Summer

Bring a blanket, bring a friend, bring your curiosity.
Waterfront Wednesdays is FREE and open to the public—rain or shine!
Check www.waterfrontwednesdays.org and follow @waterfrontwednesdays for weekly updates and event highlights.

See you at the river!